Sip and stroll amid spring blooms during a major annual food and wine festival happening this week. But first, make plans for two wine dinners featuring two big-name female winemakers. Save room for barbecue and some cold Fort Worth beer, too.
Tuesday, March 25
Mahjong & Meze Night at Nikki Greek Bistro & Lounge
Game night is back at Nikki Greek, this time for two nights due to popular demand. Enjoy a three-course dinner with choice of soup or salad, entrée, and dessert before partaking in mahjong and half-priced bottles of wine. The three-course dinner is $40 plus tax and gratuity and is available starting at 5 pm before a 7 pm mahjong start time. Tuesday is for beginners with a learn-and-play ticket for $45. On Wednesday, tickets for open play are $25. A glass of bubbly is included both nights.
Raymond Vineyards Pairing Dinner at Haywire Uptown
Raymond Vineyards winemaker Stephanie Putnam (a big name in Napa Valley) will visit the Uptown outlet of Haywire for a five-course pairing dinner. Menu highlights include duck with raspberry cilantro salsa, snapper crudo, and chocolate mousse with smoked red wine strawberries. Dinner is $100 plus tax and gratuity, and begins at 7 pm.
Wednesday, March 26
Hall Wines Dinner at Hall Arts Hotel
Special guest Kathryn Hall, owner and vintner of Hall, Walt, and Baca wines, will visit Hall Arts Hotel for this five-course pairing menu featuring her wines. The menu includes spinach agnolotti, Bronzini Meunière, Wagyu beef tenderloin, and dark chocolate custard with black cherry jam and meringue. The $175 ticket includes gratuity and valet parking and the dinner begins at 6:30 pm.
Thursday, March 27
Ice House Beer Dinner featuring Martin House Brewing Company at PGA Frisco
Barbecue will be paired with Fort Worth-based Martin House brews during this interactive dinner. Menu items will include Wagyu brisket, 44 Farms ribeye, and Diestel turkey, along with sides like lobster & brisket manicotti, whiskey glazed carrots, fried Brussels sprouts, smoked watermelon salad, seafood ceviche, fried pickles, baked potato bar, and jalapeno poppers. Save room for smoked peach cobbler. The dinner is $158 plus tax and fee, and begins at 6:30 pm.
Dallas Arboretum Food & Wine Festival
Guests can savor more than three dozen gourmet small plates and 125-plus wine varieties while strolling through the Arboretum’s 500,000 blooming bulbs. Participating restaurants include Monarch, Catbird, Asian Mint, and Empire Baking Company. Tickets are $159 ($139 for members) and general admission begins at 7 pm.
Saturday, March 29
French Wine Dinner at Café Momentum
The nonprofit restaurant and training facility for justice-involved youth will host a five-course pairing dinner featuring French wines. Menu items include a duo of oysters, duck confit salad, goat cheese tart, striploin with mushroom bordelaise, and chocolate profiterole with house-made vanilla ice cream. Tickets are $109 plus tax and gratuity, and dinner begins at 6:30 pm.
